Discussions on classroom technology ask wrong questions, experts say

Comments

I wish the people commenting had been at the conference. Waterford Institute
puts on this conference so people trying to use technology in education can
benefit from the lessons learned by other people and not make the same mistakes
over and over. The children are the focus.

If done right, technology
can really help the teachers help the children. It's not there to
substitute for the teacher, but to act as an assistant teacher; One that can
work tirelessly to help the teachers and students learn more.

I wish
those of you criticizing Waterford Institute and this conference could see the
tireless efforts of its founder and employees and see the genuine desire to put
the children first.

Steve CottrellCenterville, UT

April 3, 2013 8:46 a.m.

Not surprising that this conference favors technology. It is being hosted by
the company that evolved from WICAT which produced software for education.
That company is the parent of the Waterford Institute. They are, of course,
looking for evidence and support that would help them market technology.

My2CentsTaylorsville, UT

April 3, 2013 4:37 a.m.

This story is a red flag to parents and anyone paying education taxes.

Who is motivating the students to learn and focus on learning? You don't
allow students to work at their own pace, it makes lazy people lazier. Eduction
and students should be working as teams in the class, not individuals with no
motivation and dozens of scattered misdirections.

The best education
tool is still the pencil and paper, it seems the the humans ability to learn is
done by slow and repeated repetition. Human education is not something we can
plug the brain into and expect a child to learn. Human education and teaching
computers is not the same. Computer knowledge is a program with one specific
task of one mind. Computer knowledge is limited knowledge that is not compatible
with the human mind and method of processing information.

Humans do
not have the total recall memory of a CPU or RAM chips, we invent our knowledge
as we learn from the past and by different means of inputs. The technology of
the brain is far superior to computers and to limit the brain with inferior
technology of electronics is regressive and wasted education.

worfMcallen, TX

April 2, 2013 9:28 p.m.

Too many people controlling schools, and it's hurting our children.

Let teachers do the driving. That's what they were hired to do.
Everybody else, are backseat drivers, and need to stay out of it.